Broke down in Fallon NV

[thomasinnv]

Other than a couple minor oil leaks and the jakes not working it was a good trip. Bus ran good and strong the whole way. That's more miles than I care to do in one day but I only had the weekend to do it. Total cost has exceeded 20K.

[Scott & Heather]

Glad you're done and it's behind you now.

Now time to take a deep financial breath and enjoy your bus as long as you can. Heaven knows you have more invested now than you'll ever get back from it if you sell, so just enjoy it every moment


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[kyle4501]

I hope you are able to enjoy every bit of the money you have spent on your coach.

I don't know what price i will put on the freedom & flexibility that our motor home allows us to have on trips. But, I haven't come close to it yet.   

[luvrbus]

How is the transmission from United working for you,did your guy install another filter if not you need too United requires a filter on the suction and the return line or it will void the warranty just for your information Allison also requires the same now

[TomC]

N70 injectors will give you 320hp and 860lb/ft torque.

[buswarrior]

Did you say "standard timing"?

Should it be "advanced timing"?

Won't this be a bit smokey under load with N70's?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[thomasinnv]

Cliff I ended up getting the transmission from Penske, as for the filter there is one external filter on the side. Bus runs great, trans shifts great. Used a gallon in 600 miles, seems excessive to me. Cold start this morning  it rolled some blue smoke for a few minutes.

Yes, standard timing, and yes it will roll more smoke than before under heavy acceleration.

As for the money spent, it's just one of those things, a little here a little there and before you know it you've been bitten. You get so far into something that you feel like I can't back out now.

[thomasinnv]

Talked to the mechanic today and asked him if he used the detroit loader, his reply was "I used a smooth sleeve so as not to damage the scraper rings", so I guess that translates to 'no'. He also said that using a gallon of oil in the first 600 miles is not unreasonable. I really do hope I'm wrong on this, but I think I smell BS.

However it did have several hours of run time mostly at idle while dealing with the transmission issues, not being placed under a load. I suppose this could contribute to excessive oil consumption due to cylinder glazing and not seating the rings properly, leading to an extended breakin period? Maybe I'm grasping at straws here......

[RJ]

He also said that using a gallon of oil in the first 600 miles is not unreasonable. I really do hope I'm wrong on this, but I think I smell BS.

That mileage figure might be correct if he put 15-40 in the oil pan.  Seems a bit excessive if he used straight 40wt, then again, it is being broken in.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[thomasinnv]

RJ it is delo 100 40wt

[luvrbus]

The oil rings are like glass I broke a few even using the Kent/Moore loader,sad part you cannot see the oil rings through the covers.Just watch your drain tubes if you get excessive oil from the tubes he broke 1 or 2.I wouldn't be to alarmed about a gal in 600 miles now but when you get around 5k miles using a gal in 600 miles I would.Fwiw if he didn't turn the gap on the oil ring 180 degrees apart it may take take awhile to stop using oil   

I spoke with that guy does he have any DD tools I wonder if he had away to pull the vacuum on wrist pin seals and had the tool to install seals or used a golf ball.

Sorry I knew you where in trouble on the transmission when I spoke to him he had no idea what he was doing, a clutch pack replacement is a slam dunk on a 740      

[Detroitenginespecialist]

Thomas,
Glad to hear you are back on the road, but I am a little bummed you had to suffer through 5 months of waiting.  Would loved to at least gotten some kind of communication from you about possibly buying your engine from us, but never did. 

As well as building 20 Series 60 bus engines a month with genuine Detroit parts, we do build (3-4) 2 cycles every month for customers.  And, we do SELL parts if anyone can't find what they are looking for.  It doesn't hurt anyone to call us and ask, the worse we can say is "we don't have that".

If I read the numbers correctly, including the HT-740, you spent around $20,000.00 including labor correct?  That's not bad.  We would have been at $12,900.00 ($1,200.00 shipping round trip) for the complete engine plus $3,700.00 (includes shipping) for the transmission, which comes with a 4 year unlimited mile parts and labor warranty.  The total time for the engine and transmission to land on your door, 7 days.

At the end of the day, you can't fault anyone for making their own decision on how to spend their money.  But educating yourself on WHO to spend your money with is critical between being told the initial diagnosis is one amount, and then you end up spending double that.

[eagle19952]

I wonder if he had away to pull the vacuum on wrist pin seals.
   

this is a big deal (IMO). probably in the top 2-3 things rebuilding a DD that needs done without flaw.. i would make him show me his tool...

And based on the questions he queried Clifford... i'd have made different decisions... oh well.

[luvrbus]

I doubt he tested the seals Donald the cup for those cost 45 bucks now,I nearly pass out when Derrick told me what they charged him to dyno his transmission.The guy had his transmission so screwed I told Derrick to buy him a rebuilt one from United or Penske and be done with it was never going to last   

[muldoonman]

Lesson here somewhere. Don't let anybody work on your engines or trans unless they know what they're doing.  Hard to do if you're broke down on the road. Somebody told me even "Stewart & Stevenson" doesn't have 2 stroke guys at all locations.  If needed, I think Brian's number would be the first on my list. Sounds like they have a plan and anybody ought to be able to install the set up. Hope it straightens out on you. Could just be a break-in fluke.